PERU AND CHILE AGREE TO RESUME "TWO PLUS TWO"

UNCLAS LIMA 002625

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PE CI
SUBJECT: PERU AND CHILE AGREE TO RESUME "TWO PLUS TWO"
MEETINGS

REF: LIMA 2302


1. In a press release issued on June 10, Peru's Foreign
Ministry announced that Peruvian FM Rodriguez and Chilean FM
Walker had decided to convene a meeting on July 6 of the "2
plus 2" mechanism, the consultative group made up of the
Foreign and Defense Ministers of the two countries. This
step had been agreed to previously in the Joint Declaration
(text furnished in reftel) signed by the Foreign Ministers on
May 22 with reference to the controversy over Chilean arms
sales to Ecuador during the 1995 Peru-Ecuador border
conflict. Scheduling a date for the "2 plus 2" meeting is a
further indication of the desire of the GOP and the GOC to
return their relations to a more normal footing.


2. Embassy's informal translation of the press release
follows:

(Begin text)

Press Release 255-05

The Foreign Minister of Peru, Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros, and
of Chile, Ignacio Walker Prieto, decided to convene a meeting
of the Permanent Committee for Political Consultation and
Coordination (known as the "2 plus 2" mechanism),for
Wednesday, July 6, in Lima.

Besides the Foreign Ministers of Peru and Chile, the
Ministers of Defense of the two countries, Roberto Chiabra
and Jaime Ravinet, respectively, will also participate in
this meeting.

Also, the Foreign Ministers confirmed the occurrence of the
Annual Meeting of the High Military Command Roundtable, which
will take place in Santiago on Monday, July 4.

These meetings between the high military commands take place
annually alternating sites between Chile and Peru, the last
having been located in Lima.

Lima, June 10, 2005

(End text)
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